Fabric Structure Simultaneously Having Fluffy Hand-feel and Proper Stiffness

ABSTRACT

A fabric structure comprises a plurality of convex loops each made from a hairy fluffy yarn and formed on a first side of a fabric; and a plurality of concave loops, each consisting of a concave loop portion of the hairy fluffy yarn and plated with a base yarn formed on a second side of the fabric, thereby forming a fabric simultaneously having fluffy hand-feel and proper stiffness for comfortable uses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional towel fabric, if made from fully drawn yarn, may have enough stiffness, but lacking of fluffy hand feeling.

A conventional towel fabric, if made from processed yarn, such as a synthetic fiber false-twisted to be crimped, spiral, or coiled, may have fluffy and stretchable properties. However, such a processed yarn may not have a proper stiffness.

It is therefore expected to invent a towel fabric having both of fluffy hand-feel and stiffness for comfortable wearing or uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a fabric structure comprising a plurality of convex loops each made from a hairy fluffy yarn and formed on a first side of a fabric; and a plurality of concave loops, each consisting of a concave loop portion of the hairy fluffy yarn and plated with a base yarn formed on a second side of the fabric, thereby forming a fabric simultaneously having fluffy hand-feel and proper stiffness for comfortable uses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a fabric structure as made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows process steps for making towel fabric in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1 , a fabric structure for making towel fabric, especially a reversible towel fabric, comprises: a plurality of convex loops 11 of a hairy fluffy yarn 1 formed on a first side of a fabric F; and a plurality of concave loops 3 each consisting of a concave loop portion 12 of the hairy fluffy yarn 1 and a base yarn 2 plated on each concave loop portion 12, formed on a second side of the fabric F opposite to the convex loops 11.

The hairy fluffy yarn 1 may be made of a low number of filament, at least 2.0 dpf (denier per filament) to provide its stiffness, and further processed to be hairy and fluffy, with good hand feeling.

By the way, the hairy fluffy yarn 1 may have good fluffiness and stiffness simultaneously.

Each concave loop portion 12 of the hairy fluffy yarn 1 is juxtapositionally plated with the base yarn 2 to form each concave loop 3 to play an important role as a “spring retainer” for stably retaining each convex loop 11, which may be inferentially considered as a “spring”. Therefore, besides the material property of stiffness inherently existing in the hairy fluffy yarn 1, the “spring-like” convex loop 11 as retained by the “spring-retainer-like” concave loop 3 may thus help provide the stiffness of each convex loop and the whole fabric structure of the present invention.

The base yarn 2 may be made from recycled PET bottle of polyethylene terephthalate, and may be white color. Other materials including polyethylene terephthalate. Nylon, etc. may also be used.

Each concave loop portion 12 of the hairy fluffy yarn 1 is concaved from every two neighboring convex loops 11 of the hairy fluffy yarn 1 and concavely defined between the two neighboring convex loops 11 as shown in FIG. 1 .

In order to provide the elasticity of the fabric of the present invention, an elastic yarn (not shown) may be further incorporated into the yarns of the present invention.

The present invention may be provided for making a towel fabric or cloth in accordance with the following process steps as shown in FIG. 2 .

Step 1 Knitting (1):

The hairy fluffy yarn 1 is plated with base yarn 2, or further incorporated with elastic yarn to form the fabric structure of the present invention, by knitting or other methods.

Step 2 Making Greige Fabric (2):

By using (20˜28G) single face towel-making machine, greige fabrics of different weights may be made.

Step 3 Dyeing (3):

The fabric is further dyed to hold the softness and stiffness of the yarn, and further processed for wet absorption.

Step 4 Heat Setting (4):

By using flat stenter, the fabric may be heat treated for increasing dimensional stability, wrinkle resistance and heat resistance of the fabric, adapted for meeting the regulation requirements of a fabric product.

Step 5 Quality Control and Packaging (5):

The fabric product is subject to quality control and packed for commercial uses.

The fabric as made in this invention has a thickness of 1.1˜1.2 mm, being thicker than the fabric made of processed yarn of 0.8˜0.9 mm, and thereby being softer and more fluffy than the conventional processed yarn.

The present invention has the following advantages superior to the conventional yarns:

-   1. The fluffiness and stiffness of the present invention is formed     in situ, without further being processed such as brushing or     napping. Therefore, microfibers or microplastics may be prevented or     greatly minimized for increasing production efficiency and enhancing     environmental protection. -   2. Anti-pilling property of the fabric is provided. -   3. Better elasticity, such as four-way stretch, may be achieved. -   4. It can be easily and quickly dried. Wet insulation may also be     obtained. -   5. Light weight and warm-keeping is presented.

Accordingly, the present invention may be provided for making leisure wear or sportswear for a comfortable wearing or use.

The present invention may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The greige fabric as afore-mentioned may be subjected for pre-setting to stabilize the dimensional stability, preferably at a temperature range of 180˜190° C., but not limited in this invention. 

1. A fabric structure for making towel fabric, comprises: a plurality of convex loops of a hairy fluffy yarn formed on a first side of a fabric; and a plurality of concave loops each consisting of a concave loop portion of the hairy fluffy yarn and a base yarn juxtapositionally plated on each said concave loop portion, formed on a second side of the fabric opposite to the convex loops; each said concave loop portion of the hairy fluffy yarn concaved from every two neighboring convex loops of the hairy fluffy yarn and concavely defined between the two neighboring convex loops.
 2. A fabric structure according to claim 1, wherein said hairy fluffy yarn is made of a low number of filament, at least 2.0 dpf to provide a stiffness, and further processed to be hairy and fluffy, with hand feeling.
 3. (canceled)
 4. A fabric structure according to claim 1, wherein said base yarn is made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or Nylon and is presented as white color.
 5. (canceled)
 6. A fabric structure according to claim 1, wherein said hairy fluffy yarn is incorporated therein with a black pigment including carbon black, and is presented as black color. 